Apparatus And Method For Generating Data Signals

ABSTRACT

An ergonomic apparatus for generating data signals that may be indicative of alphanumeric characters for use with an electronic device or system such as a computer or electric typewriter, for example. The apparatus may be configured in accordance with ergonomic principles and use one or two hands to generate the data signals. The apparatus may include a set of domes that are shaped and contoured to conform to the shape of hands in a relaxed state and to distribute pressures across the splayed underside of the user&#39;s hand. Each dome may be capable of movement in a plurality of directions extending radially from a home position to generate the data signal or a portion of the data signal. The two-handed implementation disclosed utilizes input movements that enable keystroke actuation via only slight arm or hand movement, no finger movement being required. A keyboard layout may be used with the domes to associate movement of each dome with an alphanumeric layout of characters on a conventional keyboard such as a QWERTY keyboard layout. Dome movement may also be associated with the relative location of alphanumeric characters on an associated keyboard and the repsective relative frequency of use of an alphanumeric character to be produced. Hand-held embodiments of the apparatus are provided that may be used with portable or other similar electronic devices.

SPECIFIC DATA RELATED TO THE INVENTION

This application is a division of U.S. continuation-in-part applicationSer. No. 10/609,168, filed Jun. 27, 2003, which claims the benefit ofpending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/993,260 filed Nov. 14, 2001, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/248,472 filedNov. 14, 2000 which are incorporated in their entirety herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a human-computer interface for dataentry, and more particularly, to a device that is ergonomically designedwith reference to the architecture and functions of the human hand,wrist, and arm for generating data signals and/or providing data inputto a computing device.

The development of ergonomically designed keyboards has resulted from anincreased awareness and identification of physical problems associatedwith the use of conventional typewriter-like keyboards. An ergonomicallydesigned keyboard attempts to create a key layout that reduces fingertravel and fatigue; promotes a more natural hand, wrist, and arm typingposture through design and support structures; or employs various keyactivation schema in order to enhance typing performance.

Due to the proliferation and availability of computer systems, there hasbeen a dynamic growth in the use of keyboard devices. The term “computersystems” is used generically to refer to any microprocessor based devicehaving a hand or finger operated data entry system, including, forexample, PC's, McIntosh, Palm Pilots®, Sony Play Station, Nintendo GameBoys® or Game Stations, Microsoft Xbox or other video game stations.Various annoying and debilitating muscular syndromes have accompaniedthis expansion, resulting from the repetitive and fatiguing hand, wrist,and finger motions that are required in the use of conventionaltypewriter like keyboards. There has been a growing concern overneuromuscular injuries among clerical workers, journalists, computerprogrammers, and others who use computers or typewriters extensively.These injuries, one widely publicized of which is carpal tunnelsyndrome, translate not only into pain and potential disability for theaffected users, but also into significant loss of money, time, andproductivity for businesses. Attention to these problems is not new inthe art, as is evidenced by many serious attempts to alleviatekeyboard-use “injuries” through innovative keyboard layouts andarchitectural designs.

Force, repetition, posture, rest, and stress are major factors to beconsidered in controlling and eliminating keyboard-related injuries(KRIs). Analysis of each factor, both independently and in relation toone another, is necessary in designing a keyboard that eliminates orreduces KRIs, force and repetition being perhaps the most important inthe development of an ergonomically designed keyboard. Force is relatedto the musculature and conformation of the fingers and hands, whichplace limitations on their ability to perform a given task. Individualssuffering from various musculoskeletal disabilities frequently havespecial needs in order to perform routine tasks such as using a standardkeyboard for entering data into a personal computer.

An abundance of human-computer interaction literature has suggested thatsome of the recently developed alphanumeric input devices may be moreefficient, easier to learn, and may cause less physical trauma thanconventional typewriter like keyboards. Of these recently designedkeyboards, most incorporate one or more design features that enhancetyping performance and reduce or eliminate fatigue or injury. Thesedesign features include: (1) splitting the keyboard to minimize wristdeviations; (2) key contouring and flexible key mapping to minimizefinger travel; (3) built-in hand and arm support; (4) a ternarycapability in which keys rock back and forth to type; (5) a capabilityto rotate and tilt the device into numerous positions; and (6) a chordalcapability, in which more than one key must be depressed for a singlecharacter to be output.

In reference to eliminating or reducing force and repetition fatiguefactors, three approaches are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,493,issued to Einbinder, U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,732, issued to Dolenc, and U.S.Pat. No. 5,178,477, issued to Gambaro. Einbinder discloses a typewriterkeyboard in which the keys are arranged to conform to the “footprint” ofthe human hand. This layout of keys is designed with topographicallyheight- and angle-differentiated actuation pads that attempt to minimizeoverall hand and finger motion. The Einbinder device stresses theimportance of having “home positions” for the finger and thumb tips,from which position the fingers, and therefore the hands, must travelappreciably in order to perform typical typing operations. Thus, theEinbinder device eliminates only a portion of the problem in solving themotion difficulties encountered with conventional keyboards.

Similarly motivated by safety-related concerns, Dolenc teaches aone-hand key layout that includes a fanlike array of plural keysdistributed in elongated rows and organized for specific actuation bythe thumb and four fingers of the hand. Dolenc's device is concernedwith minimizing hand motion, but not finger motion. In fact, Dolencspeaks in terms of organizing keys in arrays in such a fashion that theytake into account the “motion and range of the respective fingers of thehand.” Thus, Dolenc clearly considers fingertip actuation of each key.While Dolenc addresses the issue of minimizing hand motion, thedisclosed system does not appreciably contribute to minimizing fingermotion, or to related wrist motion. In addition, this device does notaddress the angular and topographical distinctions for individual keys,such as those described in the Einbinder patent. Dolenc also does notestablish a “home position” for the tips of the fingers and thumb, asdid Einbinder.

Gambaro discloses an ergonomically designed keyboard that is organizedwith an array of keys that are disposed generally “to complement thesplayed underside architecture of the user's hand.” A two-handedimplementation is disclosed wherein each array includes, for each fingerof the hand, a cluster of input keys that are placed in such a mannerthat they enable key actuation via only “slight, gestural, relativelyclosing motion of a portion of a confronting finger, and for the thumbin each hand.” In addition, this design tries to overcome ergonomicproblems with a set of keys disposed within two adjustable“hand-print”-shaped depressions. No appreciable movement of the fingersfrom the fingertip down to immediately below the first finger joint isrequired, each finger being capable of accessing four keys for themiddle, ring, and little fingers, eight keys for the first finger, and amultitude of keys for the thumb. Again, even though drastically reduced,finger movement is still required, and all fingers are required for fullkey set actuation.

Computing and other devices that respond to data signals are regularlyused for relatively long periods of time by people of all ages andabilities. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly important that adevice accommodate extended periods of usage and take into account thespecial needs of those who may be physically challenged or otherwisedisabled. Prior art devices in general demand considerable manual anddigital dexterity to operate, making them relatively difficult forextended usage and a portion of the population to utilize efficientlyand effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Given the growing concern over keyboard-related finger and hand motionproblems, one aspect of the present invention provides an ergonomichuman-computer interface apparatus that obviates overuse injuries, withthe primary focus being on the entire aggregate of hand, wrist, andfinger motions. Applicant has previously obtained U.S. Pat. Nos.5,638,062 and 5,473,325 for ergonomically designed data input devices.Both of these patents disclose a hand or palm operated device that maybe used to generate data input signals by the sliding of a dome-shapedmember towards different sectors of a circle. For typing or thegeneration of other alphanumeric characters, two such members may beused, one controlled by each hand, so that two signals may be generatedand combined to produce as many keystroke entries as are generated by aconventional typewriter style keyboard.

One exemplary embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with aspects ofthe present invention may comprise a pair of input devices, one for eachhand. The apparatus may comprise a base and two palm engaging supportseach in the shape of a dome that fits in close complementaryrelationship with the palmar architecture of a user's hand in a relaxedstate. Thus, the hands and wrists of the user may be maintained in theirmost relaxed position and in one exemplary embodiment the domes may betilted downwardly and away from the user's left-right midplane. Eachdome may be coupled through movable means to the apparatus base, whichmay be shaped with a pair of shallow recesses dimensioned to receive arespective dome so that a lower edge of each dome may be positionedabove a peripheral edge defining each recess. In one exemplaryembodiment each dome may be maintained in a “home” or “centered”attitude when not under stress. When a dome is subjected to a slidingmotion, a biasing means such as a coil spring, for example, may exert aforce on a means for sensing the location or movement of the dome. Thismeans for sensing may be provided to sense the movement and/or locationof the dome for a specified direction of moving from the “home”position. In one exemplary embodiment, the biasing means may be aneight-legged spring that may exert tangential forces to the means forsensing movement and/or location that correlate one-to-one to themotions of each dome. Means for guiding each dome may be provided suchas a flower pedal shaped impression as more fully described below.

In one exemplary embodiment, an ergonomic handpiece, or dome, may becoupled to a kinematic map plate that is positioned above and coupled toan actuation armature. The kinematic map plate may include a means forguiding the dome such as a variable depth kinematic impression in theshape of a flower such that the flower-pedal shaped impression has anumber of discrete pedals. One exemplary embodiment allows for thekinematic map plate to mate to a four post spider mechanism that mayactuate or move vertically along a pair of guide posts on the upperdirector plate. Respective ones of the four spider posts may mate to therespective centers of the kinematic map plate flower pedal impressionsto provide a means for guiding a domes into one of eight cardinalmovement zones. When the dome is moved a sufficiently linear distance,it may be moved into one of the flower points defining the end of aflower-pedal impression. Means for registering dome displacement may beprovided via the mating of a flower pedal point and a respective spiderpost, which in turn may generate a location signal. When a locationsignal is generated by each input device or dome sequentially orsimultaneously, the pair of location signals may be translated into aunique “keystroke” signal. It can be appreciated that the possiblenumber of unique keystroke signals available is related to the number offlower pedals in each input device. That is, it is at least equal to thenumber of flower pedals in the right-hand input device times that in theleft-hand input device. This combination of signals to generate a uniquekeystroke is referred to herein as “chording”. Chording may be used togenerate a set of user-definable alphanumeric characters or functions,for example, which may then be processed into a form suitable fortransmission to a computer or other electronic device, for example.

One exemplary embodiment allows for accessing a set of keystrokes bygenerating signals indicative of the location or movement of each inputdevice or dome used alone or jointly. A color-coded annulus may beprovided for each dome in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention wherein each annulus may contain indicia that provide acorrespondence between dome attitude and keystroke. Each annulus may beaffixed to the top edge of the apparatus base wall where each isvisible. Another exemplary embodiment allows for generating a datasignal indicative of a keystroke by combining movement of one or moredomes with switching the apparatus among various operating modes such asa “num lock” mode, a “shift” mode, a “shift-lock” and/or a “caps lock”mode, for example. Using the movement or position of one or both domesin combination with various modes increases the number of keystrokesavailable for generating alphanumeric or other special characters orfunctions.

Various embodiments of the invention described herein require noappreciable hand or wrist motion and no finger motion. Instead, themovement required is relatively small such that only a slight motion ofa user's arms is required to output a desired keystroke. Morespecifically, use of various embodiments requires little shifting of thehand from a rest position and does not require wrist rotation formaneuvers that are performed on conventional keyboards by the fourfingers and the thumb. Since the fingers are not required to perform anymaneuvering for typing, instead of focusing on finger-tip activation,various embodiments of the present apparatus require only slight motionof a person's arm and/or hand for actuation of keystrokes. Also, theleft hand and right hand domes, in one exemplary embodiment, may havedifferent switches to activate various keyboard functions. For example,in the left hand dome a switch may be provided at the location of thetop surface of the upper director plate. Applying vertical pressure tothe dome may activate this switch. When the switch has not beendepressed, a first set of unique keystroke signals may be available, asdescribed above. A single depression and release of the dome allows foraccess to a second set of keystroke signals that may be equal in numberto the first set. For example, depressing and holding of the left domemay access the “shift” function or depressing and releasing the leftdome may activate the “shift-lock” function.

In another aspect of the present invention, switching means may beprovided for selectively altering or controlling the location of acursor by placing one dome into a “mouse” mode. A single sequentialdepression and release of the right hand dome, for example, may allowthat dome to act as a positioning cursor or “mouse”. This verticalactuation may disengage the spider mechanism from the dome to allow thedome freedom of movement for cursor control. In this respect, the spidermechanism may move vertically between one of two positions on verticalactuation by the right hand dome. An engaged position allows the spidermember to seat firmly in the flower pedal impressions to aid in domeguidance. A disengaged position may place the spider mechanism in aposition so it is not seated in the flower pedals impressions. Thedisengaged position allows for the kinematic map plate the about freelyin 360 degrees for cursor control. To effect this capability, oneexemplary embodiment allows for an opposing ramp geometry or cammingmechanism to be seated within a center aperture of the spider mechanism.In one exemplary embodiment, as the spider mechanism is depressed viathe dome, a plurality of camming protruberances within the aperture mayengage the ramps or camming surfaces causing the spider mechanism todisengage from the kinematic map plate and rotate approximately 45degrees. Depression of the dome may also actuate a switch that enablesthe mouse mode. The spider mechanism may re-engage the underside of thekinematic map plate after rotation and release of the dome at pointsthat do not contain the flower-pedal impressions. Concave impressionsmay be formed on the underside of the kinematic map plate for receivingposts of the spider mechanism allowing for the dome's freedom ofmovement. When the dome is depressed and released again the spidermechanism may rotate and re-engage the flower-pedal impressions and thekeyboard mode may be enabled.

In another exemplary embodiment, depression of the dome may lower thespider mechanism without rotation to a position below the kinematic mapplate and retain it in that position. In this respect, the cammingmechanism may rotate within the aperture formed in the kinematic mapplate to activate the mouse mode and retain the spider mechanism belowthe kinematic map plate via the camming protuberances and surfaces sothe dome is in the “free form” position. When the camming mechanism isrotated and the mouse switch is activated the mouse mode is initiated.Once initiated, the electronic logic of a control processing module maysense the mode and allow for mouse cursor movement using the right handdome. In one exemplary embodiment the left hand dome may then be usedfor the mouse left, right, and middle clicks and one embodiment allowsfor up to sixteen different clicks to be programmed in the apparatus.This type of built-in cursor or “mouse” activation and control allows auser to keep their hands on the respective domes continuously for totalhand on-board typing and cursor control. In one exemplary embodiment theright switch may be mounted on the top surface of the upper directorplate on the right hand dome assembly. Applying vertical pressure to thedome may activate this switch. When the switch has not been depressed, afirst set of unique keystroke signals may be available. A singledepression and release of the dome allows for access to the mousenavigation signal.

Another exemplary aspect of the present invention allows for palm andfinger rests or pads to be provided on one or both of the domes thatengage and support the hand during motion of the hand when moving arespective dome rather than being contoured to only fit the shape of astatic hand. Various aspects of the present invention allow for maximumflexibility in defining character location, activation force, activationdisplacement, and physical orientation of the apparatus. For example, itcan be used by a physically challenged individual because it will permitadaptation to his or her unique physical requirements. In addition,because finger movement may be totally eliminated, individuals withpartial hand or finger paralysis or absence can still manipulate theapparatus. Additional flexibility is provided in that variable domesizes may be made to accommodate any user. In recognition that a“one-size-fits-all” approach may not be entirely appropriate to dealwith users' hands that are significantly larger or smaller than a“median” hand size, various embodiments of the present invention allowfor different dome sizes to accommodate a range of hand sizes and fingerspans. In addition, it can be appreciated by one skilled in the art thatother ergonomically satisfactory shapes besides contoured domes may beutilized, such as balls or flat boards, for example.

Miniaturization of conventional keyboards has been a difficult taskbecause of the need to accommodate human fingers. One exemplaryembodiment of the invention described herein allows for easyminiaturization and requires the use of only one finger, such as thethumb, of each hand, to operate the apparatus. For example, an exemplaryembodiment of a thumb controlled mechanism disclosed herein can beimplemented as a pair of thumb-operated elements on the face ofcomputing devices such as a Palm Pilot® or Game Boy® hand-held units,for example. Further, since various embodiments of the present inventioncontain no unitary “keys” requiring independent movement, it is possibleto make the apparatus completely sealed for weatherproofing so that theyare hostile-environment ready. Their design allows for total enclosureand therefore protection from water, dirt, dust, etc.

It can be appreciated that another alternate embodiment of the presentinvention may comprise a unitary input apparatus as already describedfor one-handed operation. A certain set of keystrokes may be accessibleby rocking the dome into the available signal-generating sectors, thenumber of keystrokes available being equal to the number of sectors. Inaddition, chording is possible with the use of the switching meansdescribed above. In this exemplary embodiment, the user may rock thedome into one sector while simultaneously depressing the domesufficiently to activate the switching means. While maintaining verticalpressure on the dome, the dome may be returned to the “home” positionand then moved into a second sector. The signals generated by the motionof the dome are then “chorded” in a similar fashion to that utilized inthe dual input device embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard illustrating one exemplaryembodiment of the invention, using two domes shaped to fit the naturalshape of the hands at rest;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the keyboard of FIG.1, illustrating the generalshape of the keyboard;

FIG. 2A is a perspective exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of atop half and a bottom half of the keyboard housing of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 2B is a perspective bottom view of an exemplary upper directorplate;

FIG. 2C illustrates a plan view of an exemplary spring in accordancewith aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the keyboard of FIG. 1illustrating an exemplary arrangement of components forming theunderlying structure;

FIG. 3A is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a kinematic mapplate coupled with an upper director plate of the keyboard of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective bottom view of the kinematic map plateof FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a spidermechanism show in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3D illustrates a side view of the spider mechanism of FIG. 3C;

FIG. 3E illustrates a front view of an exemplary ramping or cammingmechanism in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary pair of character definition rings forthe keyboard;

FIGS. 5 and 5A illustrate in cross-section details and broken away froma housing an exemplary embodiment of a control assembly in tworespective positions in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an underside of one dome;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus that may behand-held in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate cross-section and exploded views, respectively,of the apparatus of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anapparatus that may be hand-held in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 9Awith a different shaped housing;

FIG. 9C illustrates front view of an exemplary controller of theapparatus of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 9D illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment ofan apparatus that may be hand-held in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9E illustrates another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus thatmay be hand-held in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 9F illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment ofan assemblage that may be used with various embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an exploded view of another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the dome plate of FIG.10;

FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodimentof a director plate shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a keyboard layout inaccordance with aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of the keyboard layout of FIG.13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is indicated generally by thereference numeral 10 an ergonomically designed interface apparatus forentering data or information by a human operator to a suitableelectronic system (not shown) such as a computer. The couplingarrangement between apparatus or keyboard 10 and a conventionalcomputer, which entails an electronic device coupled with an electronicalphanumeric device, is well known to those skilled in the art and maybe a communication link using a cable, infrared, radiotransmitter/receiver or other suitable means.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, keyboard 10 maytake on a sculpted form that is intended to complement closely thetypical palmar architecture of the human hand at rest. Accordingly,keyboard 10 may have bilateral symmetry, which can be seen in FIG. 2,with a left-hand device or controller 102, which conforms to a user'sleft hand, and a right-hand device or controller 104, which conforms tothe user's right hand. In one exemplary embodiment, various hand-shapeddomes or undulations may be formed in each device 102, 104 to aid inpositioning and improving comfort. Devices 102, 104 may be operativelysecured to a housing 28 and these structures may be formed of moldedplastic.

For simplification, the structure and operation of the interfacekeyboard 10 is described hereinafter primarily with reference toright-hand input device 104, it being understood that device 102 may bestructurally and operatively identical with certain exceptions describedherein in accordance with aspects of the present invention. Keyboard 10may include a housing 28 formed with a top half 29 and a bottom half 31as more clearly shown in FIG. 2A. Housing 28 may be formed with curvedsidewalls 294 and a curved proximate edge 296. The bottom half 31 ofhousing 28 may include a pair of shallow recesses 33 that aredimensioned to receive a lower portion of a base plate attached beneathrespective controllers or domes 102, 104 as more fully described below.The top half 29 of housing 28 may include two openings 35 dimensioned toreceive the base plate and allow the underside peripheral edges 37 of anupper director plate 135, shown in FIG. 2B, to rest on respectiveannular rims 36. One exemplary embodiment allows for the openings 35 tobe formed so that annular rims 36 slant downwardly and away from eachother with bilateral symmetry toward respective sidewalls 294. In thisrespect, the peripheral edges of openings 35 closest to the middle ofthe top half 29 of housing 28 are higher than those peripheral edgesclosest to the sidewalls 294. This allows for the domes 102, 104 toergonomically conform to the position of a user's hands and arms whenthey are substantially at rest on the domes 102, 104.

One aspect of the present invention provides a means for selecting areference or “resident North” direction for each respective dome 102,104 so that an end user may select the “resident North” direction foreach dome to accommodate that end user's needs or preferences. The“resident North” or reference direction may be the easiest direction foran end user to move a respective dome, for example, when the user'shands are placed on the domes. Each dome 102, 104 may be moved indifferent directions into its “resident North” position as selected bythe end user. The upper director plate 135 may move in response tomovement of a respective dome 102, 104 into its respective “residentNorth” position, which may correspondingly translate an actuationarmature, as more fully described below. The means for selecting mayinclude opposing sets of teeth 38 on the underside of upper directorplate 135 that may matingly engage respective ones of opposing sets ofrecesses 39 formed within annular rims 36. In this respect,corresponding ones of the teeth 38 and recesses 39 may be engaged whenthe respective upper director plates 135 are attached to the top half 29of housing 28 in a “resident North” position selected by the user. Thismeans for selecting is advantageous in that it provides one degree offreedom for individual users to independently adjust the direction forsliding each dome, when attached to respective upper director plates135, into a “resident North” position. This degree of freedomaccommodates a user's particular hands and arms positions for slidingthe respective domes. Alternate means will be recognized by thoseskilled in the art.

One aspect of the present invention allows for a second degree offreedom with respect to a user's sliding or movement of respective domes102, 104. Referencing FIGS. 3 and 6, means is provided for adjusting therotational position of each dome relative to respective kinematic mapplates 127 so that an end user may select the position of a domerelative to directions that the dome may be moved. This means foradjusting may include a plurality of gear teeth 112 formed within theunderside of respective domes 102, 104 that matingly engage withcorresponding gear teeth 125 formed on an upper surface of respectivekinematic map plates 127. In this respect, a user may adjust therotational alignment of each dome with respect to the directions a domemay be moved to generate a data signal. This accommodates thatparticular user's palmer architecture and/or arm alignment forpositioning their hand on a respective dome 102, 104 for sliding thatdome into various compass positions, such as the “resident North”position, as more fully described below. This combination of selecting a“resident North” direction and selecting a rotational positioning ofrespective domes 102, 104 provides an ergonomic benefit to end users.

In an exemplary embodiment suitable for hostile environments, keyboard10 may be completely sealed and airtight. This may be accomplished byattaching one edge of a rubberized expandable gasket (not shown) aroundthe lower edge of respective domes 102, 104 and the other edge of thegasket to a top surface of housing 28. The gasket may be sufficientlyflexible to enable the working of the domes and may be accomplished byusing an accordion pleated gasket, for example.

With reference to FIG. 5 and dome 104 (not shown), one exemplaryembodiment allows for dome 104 to be coupled with housing 28 via aridged annulus 106 that includes a raised upper end 108. It will berecognized that the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 5A may form aunitary control assembly that may be removably coupled with the housing28 so that respective domes 102, 104 may be removed from the housing 28and used together or independently. The underside of dome 104 may fitover the raised upper end 108 to couple the dome with the annulus. Inone exemplary embodiment the raised upper end 108 may include aplurality of circumferentially disposed teeth (not shown) that matinglyengage an inside inverse receptacle pattern of teeth 112 (see FIG. 6) onthe underside 114 of dome 104. A top cover plate 105 may fit over ashaft or central post 142 and be held in place by a retaining ring 103(shown in FIG. 3) snapped into a circumferential groove formed in theupper end of the central post 142. As shown in FIG. 5, a biasing meanssuch as a spring 111 may be positioned between the underside of theannulus 106 and an upper surface of an upper director plate 124. Thisallows for the annulus 106 and consequently an exemplary kinematic mapplate 126 and a spider mechanism 130, an exemplary embodiment of whichis more clearly shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, to be depressed and releasedin response to vertical displacement of the dome 104 when attached tothe annulus 106. Spring 111 may function as a means for biasing thespider mechanism 130 against the kinematic map plate 126. In thisrespect, when the dome 104 is depressed, apertures 113 formed in annulus106 may receive therein corresponding posts 115 of an exemplaryembodiment of an actuator armature 110 as shown in FIG. 5A. As dome 104is depressed, a spider mechanism 130 may rotate so that the respectiveposts 131 of spider mechanism 130 disengage from a plurality ofimpressions 128 formed in the underside of the kinematic map plate 126.Means for allowing dome 104 to move freely within 360° may be provided.This means may cause the spider mechanism 130 to disengage from theimpressions 128 and in one exemplary embodiment may include a ramp orgear arrangement 107 fit over the central post 142. In this respect,depressing and releasing dome 104 once may cause the spider mechanism130 to rotate approximately 45° so that when the dome 104 is releasedthe posts 131 may impinged the underside of the kinematic map plate 126at locations so they are not engaged within the impressions 128.Depressing and releasing dome 104 again may cause the spider mechanismto rotate approximately 45° so that the tips of posts 131 re-engagerespective impressions 128 on the underside of the kinematic map plate126 for guiding movement of the dome. As the dome 104 is depressed andreleased the spider mechanism 130 may impinge on switch button 120 toswitch the functioning of that dome between a “mouse” mode and a“keyboard” mode as more fully described below.

A tension parameter associated with the sliding motion of the dome 104may be modified in the actuator armature 110 with the use of a biasingmeans such as a spring 116 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A. Spring 116 may besnapped or fitted into a hole 118 formed centrally within the base ofthe armature 110 as more clearly shown in another exemplary embodimentof the present invention shown in FIG. 3. The spring 116 may include acentrally located recess or receptacle that fits over and retains thespring 116 on a position sensing means 122. In this respect, as theactuator armature 110 moves in response to the movement of the dome 104,the spring 116 will exert pressure on the position sensing means 122. Itwill be appreciated that the installation of a heavier biasing means orspring may increase the tension associated with moving actuator armature110 and consequently with the sliding of dome 104. In this respect,increasing or decreasing the tension in spring 116 will not lead to achange in force required to activate the position sensing means 122. Oneexemplary embodiment allows for the spring 116 to be a coil spring asshown in FIG. 3. Another exemplary embodiment allows for the spring 116to be formed as multi-legged spring that may be molded in whole or inpart from the commercially available plastic Derlin, or a composite ofDerlin, polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”), tetrafluoroethylene (“Teflon”)and/or other suitable alloys or polymers. FIG. 2C shows an exemplaryspring 116 having eight curvilinear legs 117 symmetrically disposed in awheel-spoke fashion. This eight-legged spring may exert tangential andcompression forces to the position sensing means 122 that correlateone-to-one to the eight motions of a dome guided by the flower pedalarrangement or impressions 128. In this respect, respective groups ofthree legs 117 may operate on the position sensing means 122 when arespective dome 102, 104 is moved into one of the eight positionsdefined by impressions 128. These positions and corresponding legs 117may be referred to as points on a compass. For example, when arespective dome 102, 104 is moved into its “resident North” position,which may be selected by the end user, leg 119 may exert a compressionforce on position sensing means 122 and respective legs 117 adjacent toleg 119 may exert tangential forces on the position sensing means 122.The resultant force exerted by these legs on the position sensing means122 provides an accurate indication of the movement and position of therespective dome 102, 104. It will be recognized by those skilled in theart that spring 116 may include more or less than eight legs 117 as afunction of the number of positions that a respective dome may be moved,the sensitivity of the material from which the spring 116 is formedand/or the stiffness of each leg 117, for example. In one exemplaryembodiment the position sensing means 122 may be a transducer or straingauge such as one known commercially as a PixiPoint from Semtech or apointer stick device such as the TrackPoint device from IBM. When spring116 exerts a force on the position sensing means 122 indicative of achange in position of the dome 104, for example, a corresponding datasignal may be transmitted to a processing means such as a controlprocessor or circuit board of the keyboard 10 indicative of the dome'sposition. Alternate embodiments may be configured so that the positionsensing means 122 generates the data signal in response to pressureinduced on means 122 without the necessity of controller or dome 104being physically translated. In this aspect, dome 104 may be directlycoupled with means 122 so that the data signal is generated in responseto pressure exerted on means 122 caused by a user exerting acorresponding pressure on dome 104. This aspect may also be used withvarious embodiments of the present invention configured to control theoperation of hand held computing devices more fully described below.

Referencing FIG. 5, when a user's hand is positioned on top of dome 104to slide it when coupled with housing 28, the dome's movement in ahorizontal plane substantially perpendicular to central post 142 willcause a corresponding movement of the annulus 106. This can be seen tocause a corresponding motion in the actuator armature 110, which ismounted on the position sensing means 122 via spring 116 below anexemplary upper director plate 124. Actuator armature 110 may form partof a transducer structure, which is coupled to the position sensingmeans 122. Position sensing means 122 or means for sensing movement ofdome 104 may be affixed to a bottom portion 298 of a base plate 299. Inone exemplary embodiment, the kinematic map plate 126 may be disposedbeneath the annulus 106 as shown in FIG. 5. The underside of thekinematic map plate 126 may contain a plurality of impressions 128. Eachimpression 128 may include eight symmetrically arranged grooves, forexample, that resemble flower pedals as best shown in the bottom view ofan alternate embodiment of a kinematic map plate 127 shown in FIG. 3B.In one exemplary embodiment, the underside of the kinematic map plate126 includes four flower-pedal shaped impressions 128 arranged as shownin FIG. 3B. The kinematic map plate 126 may be disposed above the spidermechanism 130 so that when the spider mechanism 130 is engaged with thekinematic map plate 126 each of the four impressions 128 may matinglyengage respective ones of the four posts 131 of the spider mechanism130. In this respect, the four posts 131 may mate to a centerindentation of each of the impressions 128 when the dome 104 is at itscenter resting location or in its neutral position. Spring 111 acts as ameans for biasing the spider mechanism 130 against the kinematic mapplate 126 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A. The centerindentation may be slightly deeper than the flower pedal impressions toprovide tactile feedback to a user that dome 104 is in its neutralposition.

In one exemplary embodiment, the eight flower pedal-shaped impressions128 define the possible planar movements of the dome 104. In thisrespect, when dome 104 is moved linearly or laterally from a centerresting location in a plane perpendicular to central post 142, acorresponding displacement is induced in the kinematic map plate 126. Itwill be recognized by those skilled in the art that in alternateembodiments dome 104 may be moved in a plane oblique to central post142. The flower pedal shaped impressions 128 may function as a guidewhen mated with the spider mechanism 130 such that the motions of thedome 104 are restricted to the motions allowed for by the impressions128. An alternate embodiment of the impressions 128 allows them to beshallower so that a user may disengage the dome 104 from the kinematicmap plate 126 for moving the dome 104 in a “mouse” mode as more fullydescribed below. The impressions 128 may engage and move along or beguided by the statically located spider tips 131. This provides guidanceof the domes 104 into one of eight respective positions, for example, asdefined by the impressions 128. The linear displacement of kinematic mapplate 126 may only be induced to the extent of the spider posts or tips131 reaching a point 132 defined by the end of each groove of theimpressions 128. Thus, each of the points 132 creates a “stop” tokinematic map plate 126 movement. The extent of the displacement ofkinematic map plate 126 needed to reach one of these “stops” defines thepoint at which the position sensing means 122 may output a locationsignal indicating a respective position of dome 104. Alternateembodiments allow for the eight-position impressions 128 to be replacedwith an aperture having from zero to twelve points 132, for example, andmay vary in size as will be recoginzed by those skilled in the art.Since the transduction of linear displacement into a location signal issoftware controlled, there is virtually unlimited flexibility inherentin this system.

One exemplary embodiment allows for the kinematic map plate 126 totranslate in relation to the upper director plate 124 in both thevertical and horizontal directions. Referencing FIGS. 5 and 5A, verticaltranslation of the kinematic map plate 126 allows for activation of aswitch button 120 via spider mechanism 130. Switch button 120 may allowfor switching a respective dome 102 and/or 104 between a “mouse” modeand a “keyboard” mode, for example, or to generate other signals ofoperation. Movement of dome 104 in the horizontal direction may allowfor typing alphanumeric characters when the dome 104 is in the“keyboard” mode and for controlling a cursor when dome 104 is in the“mouse” mode. The switch button 120 may be affixed atop the upperdirector plate 124 and immediately beneath the spider mechanism 130 butnot in contact with the bottom of the spider mechanism 130. Whenkinematic plate 126 is depressed via dome 104 being pushed downward,spider mechanism 130 may move downwardly, which in turn may depressbutton 120 mounted on top of upper director plate 124. Button 120 may inturn register activation of the “mouse” or “keyboard” mode. When thespider mechanism 130 activates the “mouse” mode and dome 104 isreleased, the posts 131 of spider mechanism 130 do not engage theimpressions 128 formed on the underside of the kinematic map plate 126so that the dome 104 may move freely in all directions to controlmovement of a cursor. When dome 104 is depressed and released again,switch 120 may activate the “keyboard” mode and the posts 131 re-engagethe impressions 128 so that the dome 104 may be used to generatealphanumeric and other characters in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention. In one exemplary embodiment, dome 104 may be used toswitch between “mouse” and “keyboard” modes and dome 102 may be used,without the rotation of spider mechanism 130, such that a singledepression of a switch button 120 may output a signal to a controlprocessor to activate the “shift” function, a single click (depress thenrelease) activation may enable the “shift lock” function and a doubleclick may activate the “num lock” function. With a single input deviceembodiment such as a one handed of hand-held device, for example, aswitching means, such as switch button 120, may permit the user to“chord” two location signals from one input device to create akeystroke, as more fully described below.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.3. In this respect, the annulus 106 and the kinematic map plate 126shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A may be formed as unitary piece or kinematic mapplate 127 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A. It will be recognized that theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 may form a unitary control assembly thatmay be removably coupled with the housing 28 so that respective domes102, 104 may be removed from the housing 28 and used together orindependently. FIG. 3A shows a bottom perspective view of the exemplaryembodiment of the kinematic map plate 127 shown in FIG. 3. Kinematic mapplate 127 may include a plurality of impressions 128 formed on itsbottom surface and in one embodiment four symmetrically arrangedimpressions 128 are formed therein. Kinematic map plate 127 may alsoinclude a plurality of posts 129 that may pass through correspondingapertures 133 of an upper director plate 135 and fit within a pluralityof corresponding receptacles 137 formed on an actuator armature 139.Each post may have a spring (not shown) inserted there over so that whenthe posts 129 are fit within respective receptacles 137 a biasingrelationship is established so that the kinematic map plate 127 may bevertically translated between an up or at rest position and a down ordepressed position via the dome 104, for example. Dome 104 may matinglyengage the kinematic map plate 127 by inserting its teeth 112, shown inFIG. 6, over the circumferential teeth 125 formed on the upper side ofthe plate 127.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 may include a switch 85 that may be toggledbetween a “mouse” mode and a “keyboard” mode in the following manner.This may be performed by either dome. A ramping or camming mechanism 86may be inserted within the center aperture of spider mechanism 130 sothat a plurality of camming protuberances 88 within the spider's centeraperture engage respective camming surfaces or ramps 89 formed in thecamming mechanism 86. FIG. 3E shows a front view of camming mechanism86. The bottom of camming mechanism 86 may rest on a center portion 90of the upper director plate 135 so that the central post 142 may beinserted through a center aperture of the camming mechanism 86 when theembodiment of FIG. 3 is assembled. The upper director plate 135 mayinclude two spring-loaded posts 91 that engage corresponding apertures92 formed in the spider mechanism 130 so that the spider mechanism 130is biased upwardly when placed over the posts 91. Switch 85 may beaffixed to the base of upper director plate 135 so that when the cammingmechanism 86 rests on the center portion 90 respective switch activators93 affixed to the bottom of camming mechanism 86 may toggle switch 85between a “mouse” mode and a “keyboard” mode when camming mechanism 86is rotated about the central post 142. In this respect, when theembodiment of FIG. 3 is assembled, a downward or vertical displacementof dome 104, for example, will cause the camming protuberances 88 toengage the camming surfaces 89 and cause the camming mechanism 86 torotate about the central post 142.

As can be appreciated from the camming surfaces 89 configuration shownin FIG. 3E, the rotation of the camming mechanism 86 will cause thespider mechanism 130 to move between a lower position and a releasedposition. The spider mechanism 130 will be retained in its lowerposition via the camming protuberances 88 being captured at respectivepoints 94 of the camming surfaces 89 and due to the upward bias createdon the spider mechanism 130 by the spring loaded posts 91. When thecamming mechanism 86 is rotated into its lower position, a switchactivator 93 may engage switch 85 thereby switching the dome 104 into a“mouse” mode. In this mode, the spider mechanism 130 is retained belowthe kinematic map plate 127 so that dome 104 may move freely in alldirections to control a cursor. When the dome 104 is depressed andreleased again, the camming mechanism 86 rotates so that the cammingprotuberances 88 follow the camming surfaces 89 into upper channels 95.This allows the upward bias on the spider mechanism 130 to re-engage thetips of the spider posts 131 with the impressions 128 formed on theunderside of the kinematic map plate 127. In this position, the switchactivator 93 will disengage from the switch 85 so that the dome 104 isin the “keyboard” mode to generate alphanumeric and other characters inaccordance with aspects of the present invention. FIG. 3 alsoillustrates an exemplary guide plate 96 that fits over an exemplaryactuator armature 97. A receptacle 98 may be affixed within a base plate83 that allows for each control assembly or “pod” to be removed from thehousing 28 and placed in various locations to accommodate a user's needssuch as being coupled to respective arms of a wheelchair, for example.It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that various housingsmay be used so that respective domes 102, 104 may be separated from eachother and independently secured at different locations, for example, toaccommodate a specific end user's needs.

Referring to FIG. 4, a character definition ring 138 may be providedwith the right-hand input device 104 with indicia that, when used eitheralone or in concert with a character definition ring 140 on theleft-hand input device 102, may provide a correspondence betweendome-attitude or position and the keystroke generated. Each ring 138,140 may overlay respective domes 102, 104 on keyboard 10 shown inFIG. 1. It will be understood that these rings may also be used with theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 10. In one exemplary embodiment, eachcharacter definition ring 138, 140 may be segmented into eight radialsectors that correspond to the eight flower-pedal points 132 ofimpression 128 or 346. In this respect, character definition ring 140may include eight radial sectors 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 whereeach sector may be color coded or otherwise patterned to correspond witha color-coding or patterning of character definition ring 138. Ring 138may include eight radially extending rows containing indicia ofalphanumeric characters and/or keyboard functions where each radiallyextending row corresponds with one of the eight flower-pedal points 132.Each character and/or function within a radially extending row may alsolie in one of a plurality of concentric rings such as five concentricrings 144, 146, 148, 150 and 152, for example, that may be color codedor patterned to correspond with the color-coding or patterning of theradial sectors of character definition ring 140 to aid a user ingenerating a keystroke. In one exemplary embodiment there may be eightconcentric rings on ring 138 where each ring is color coded tocorrespond to one of the eight radial sectors 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53and 54 on character definition ring 140. With this combination ofcolor-coding and indicia on rings 138, 140 two motions may be used tocreate a single keystroke for generating an alphanumeric character orperforming a keyboard function, for example. This is in contrast to aconventional keyboard, which requires the hands to be in an offsetrelationship with respect to the arm in the normal operation of thekeyboard. By using one of various embodiments of the present invention,it is possible to minimize, if not completely eliminate, the strain andstress on the wrist and interconnecting musculoskeletal portions of thewrist, arm, and hands. Additionally, one can anticipate that learningthe circular key layout, as well as the dome manipulation technique,will become easier and that accuracy will increase over time. When thedual input device embodiment is utilized using domes 102, 104 datasignals may be generated to produce a keystroke or alphanumericcharacter in at least one of two ways: using a single dome to access oneof eight keystrokes available from each device, in response to movementof a dome along impression 128 for example, or using a chordal motion.In “chording” a combination of two signals, one from each device 102,104 may be translated into a single signal having a uniquecorrespondence with one of a set of keystroke signals. A processingmodule may be configured with firmware and/or software for interpretingthe data signals and translating them into associated alphanumericcharacters, for example. It will be recognized by one skilled in the artthat the processing module may be programmed with respect to characterlocation and definition to allow a user to create special sets ofcharacters or direct digital control signals as needed.

The generation of data signals for producing keystroke signals will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. The method of generating sucha data signal may be achieved by using devices 102, 104 sequentially orsimultaneously, that is, by “chording”. Sliding dome 102 into one of theeight colored sectors of the character definition or selector ring 140provides half of the “chord” needed to output a keystroke signal andindicates to the user in a color-coded or patterned fashion which set ofcharacters of the correspondingly colored or patterned concentric ringon the character definition or selector ring 138 are accessible or ableto be produced. For example, if the color red indicated by the redsector (cross-hatched) 53 of character selector ring 140 in FIG. 4 ischosen with the left-hand dome 102, the set of characters 142 shown inthe red concentric ring (cross-hatched) 143 on the right hand dome isenabled. Reversing the order of the motions may produce the samecharacter. However, it will be recognized by those skilled in the artthat reversing the order of dome movement may produce a differentcharacter and/or keyboard function if desired. It will be appreciatedthat in the exemplary embodiment having eight sectors on ring 140 andeight concentric circles on ring 138 (only five are shown in FIG. 4 forease of illustration) there are 64 unique keystrokes available and up to128 when the “shift” function, for example, is enabled. Alternateembodiments allow for keystrokes to be generated by a using a singledome 102, 104 simply by sliding only one dome 102, 104 into a flowerpedal point 132 leaving the other dome in its “home” position. Theposition sensing means 122 may generate data signals in response tomovement of the domes 102 and/or 104, as discussed above, that may betransmitted to a control-processing module, which may transmit arespective data signal to a computing device for producing theassociated keystroke.

One advantage of this design is that it enables a user to utilize thekeyboard 10 with less precision with one hand than the other. In thisrespect, if a user has less dexterity, etc. in their left hand relativeto their right then the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 allows the userto slide the left hand dome 102 only once into one radial position ofring 140 and be able to generate eight characters within thecorresponding concentric ring of ring 138 with their right hand. Variousembodiments of the present invention may allow for either sequential orsimultaneous movements of the domes 102, 104 for character generation.It can further be seen that character definition (which may be firmwareand/or software controlled) could take into account the user's left orright-handedness by placing those characters that are most often used inpositions requiring, for instance, less precision with the left handthan with the right hand. Using a character definition ring 140 witheight radial sectors and a character definition ring 138 with eightcorresponding concentric rings and eight radial rows of charactersallows for 64 unique keystrokes. One exemplary embodiment allows foractivating the switch 120, which may double this number to 128 and inthis respect the indicia present on character definition rings 138 and140 may also comprise a second symbol set indicative of the keystrokesthat would be generated with the keyboard 10 placed in the “shift” mode,for example. In one exemplary embodiment, chording to type a capitalletter may be accomplished by two sequential or simultaneous linearmotions of the domes 102, 104 and may also involve the switch button120. For example, to generate a data signal indicative of the capitalletter “E”, dome 102 may be linearly moved into the hatched sector 49located on the selector ring 140 while depressing that dome to activatethe switch button 120 without releasing the vertical pressure on theswitch 120. Dome 104 may then be moved left or to the “west” toward theletter “e” that is located in the hatched concentric circle 146 to“type” the capital letter “E”.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a perspective view of an alternateembodiment of the present invention, which may be a hand-held device 159in which the domes or palm controls 102, 104 may be implemented in theform of thumb controllers 160, 162. This type of keyboard 10 maytypically be used with a hand-held computing device such as PC, PalmPilot® or Game Boy®, for example, to allow the user to hold the devicein two hands and use a thumb of each hand to control the respectivethumb controllers 160, 162. The structure underlying the thumbcontrollers can be a miniaturized version of various embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view and FIG. 9 is an exploded view of oneexemplary embodiment of the thumb control used in the embodiment of FIG.7. In FIG. 9, it can be seen that the exposed thumb control 160 mayextend through a top housing section 164 and interface with a switchingdevice 166. The switching device 166 may have actuation switchesattached to allow sensing of depressing of the switch 166 in a mannersimilar to that with regard to switch 120 of FIGS. 5 and 5A or switch334 of FIG. 10. A position sensing means such as a strain gauge pressureswitch 168 may fit within a recess 170 in a lower flexible plate 172.The plate 172 may fit against a bottom portion of the switch 166 andsenses lateral movement of the switch 166. The strain gauge 168 may be acommercially available type such as those used for controlling thecursor movement in some laptop computers, for example, as mentionedabove in reference to position sensing means 122. When the flexibleplate 172 rocks in response to movement of the thumb control 160, thesensor may register and send electric signals to a logic board thatdetects the direction in which the plate 172 is being moved. Thepreviously described flower pedal pattern 128, 346 may be impressed intothe upper housing 164 at one or more locations 165. These impressionsmay be engaged by respective nubs 167 to provide a guiding mechanism forthe thumb control 160. This may enable the thumb controller 160 to beguided into eight locations defined by the flower-pedal impressions, forexample, for generating a data signal to implement a charactergeneration sequence in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention. Alternate aspects of this exemplary embodiment allow forgenerating data signals for a wide range of applications such ascontrolling the operation of a hand-held computing device such as anelectronic game, for example.

Another exemplary embodiment of hand-held device 159 is shown in FIG. 9Athat may include a top housing 200 and a bottom housing 202 that mayhouse first and second controllers 204, 206. The underside of tophousing 200 may include respective flower-pedal impressions 208 that mayengage respective nubs 210 affixed to the upper side of a respectivecontroller base piece 212 for guiding the respective controllers among aplurality of positions in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention. The top housing 200 and controller base piece 212 may beformed to matingly engage when device 159 is assembled, and in oneexemplary embodiment the top housing 200 may be formed with acurvilinear or hemispherical surface that engages the base piece 212formed with matching curvilinear or hemispherical surfaces asillustrated in FIG. 9B. Device 159 may be formed in other shapes such asa disk as shown in FIG. 9A. Controllers 204, 206 may operatively engagerespective sensing means 214, via respective shafts 216, mounted on abase plate 215. Sensing means 214 may be a commercially availabledevice, such as a “joystick” assemblage for example, having appropriatesensing means for detecting movement in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention. The underside of controllers 204, 206 may include acentrally aligned recess for receiving respective shafts 216 so thatshafts 216 move in response to movement or “rocking” of the controllers.Sensing means 214 may include a pair of potentiometers for registeringmovement of respective controllers 204, 206 and send electronic datasignals to a logic board for generating data signals in accordance withvarious aspects of the present invention. Sensing means 214 may alsoinclude an internally located switch (not shown) situated beneath shaft216 that may be activated and deactivated by depressing a respectivecontroller 204, 206. The switch may be configured to change the controllogic of device 159 so that it switches between modes in accordance withvarious aspects of the present invention. For example, this switch maycause device 159 to switch among the “Num Lock”, “Caps Lock” and “Shift”modes, for example. FIG. 9B illustrates top housing 200 positioned awayfrom the respective controllers 204, 206 for ease of illustration. Whendevice 159 is assembled, the impressions 208 may engage respective nubs210 as best shown in FIG. 9C.

FIG. 9D illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a controlarrangement of device 159 that may include a bottom housing 219 and acontroller 220 situated within a top housing 222 so that controller 220may be moved from a home or neutral position in a plurality ofdirections radially extending from the home position, that may bedefined by a flower-pedal impression 230, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention. It will be appreciated that FIG. 9Dillustrates one control arrangement and that device 159 may include afunctionally equivalent second control arrangement not shown. Controller220 may include a centrally located recess 224 for receiving ball 226positioned on top of shaft 228 that is operatively extending fromsensing means 214, described above, mounted to the bottom housing 219.The underside of controller 220 may include a flower-pedal impression230 that engages a ball bearing 338 affixed to the top of aspring-loaded ball plunger 336 affixed to the bottom housing 219. Theunderside of controller 220 may also include a concave recess 232 thatengages a ball bearing 338 affixed to the top of a spring-loaded ballplunger 336, which may include a snap ring arrangement as describedabove, affixed to the bottom housing 219. In this respect, controller220 may slide within a substantially planar surface among the homeposition and the radially extending positions defined by impressions 230so that sensing means 214 detects the position of the controller 220 andgenerates a data signal that may be indicative an alphanumericcharacter, for example, in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention. Controller 220 may also be depressed to activate anddeactivate a switch within the sensing means 214 to cause device 159 toshift between various modes as described above. A pair of frictionreduction nubs 234 may be affixed to the controller 220 so they engagethe underside of top housing 222.

FIG. 9E illustrates another exemplary embodiment of device 159 that mayinclude a bottom housing 240 and a controller 242 situated within a tophousing 244 so that controller 220 be moved in a plurality of directionswithin a substantially planar surface of the top housing 244. It will beappreciated that FIG. 9E illustrates one control arrangement and thatdevice 159 may include a functionally equivalent second controlarrangement not shown. Controller 242 may have an insertion 246 housedtherein that receives a ball 248 when top housing 244 and bottom housing240 are assembled. One exemplary embodiment allows for the insertion tobe formed as a cube or have at least one flat surface that abuts acorresponding flat surface formed on an inside surface of centrallylocated collar portion 250 of the controller 242 to prevent theinsertion 246 from rotating when controller 242 is be used. Insertion246 may include a hemispherical inner surface 252 within which aplurality of impressions, such as flower-pedal impressions 254, may beformed therein. In this respect, the flower-pedal impressions 254 may beformed within the curvilinear surface of the hemispherical inner surface252 and may engage a guide knob 256 formed on top of a guide ball 258.The top housing 244 is shown broken away from bottom housing 240 forease of illustration it being understood that when device 159 of FIG. 9Eis assembled the guide knob 256 and ball 258 may fit within theflower-pedal impressions 254 for guiding the controller 242 among thedirections defined by the flower-pedal impressions 254 and for causingthe guide ball 258 to move in a direction corresponding to movement ofthe controller 242. Guide ball 258 may be attached to a shaft 260extending from a sensing means 214, described above, affixed to thebottom housing 240. As the controller 242 is moved the correspondingmovement of guide ball 258 and consequently shaft 260 may cause thesensing means 214 to generate data signals indicative of thecontroller's 242 direction of movement.

One exemplary embodiment of the device 159 shown in FIG. 9E allows for abiasing means, such as a compression spring, to be inserted within thecollar portion 250 of controller 242 prior to placing insertion 246therein to create a downward bias on the insertion 246 so that it ismaintained in engagement with guide knob 256 and guide ball 258 whendevice 159 is assembled. A base plate 262 may be affixed to thecontroller 242, such as by gluing, and include a centrally locatedaperture 264 that may align with the collar portion 250 of thecontroller 242 and within which the insertion 246 may be fit. Controller242 and base plate 262 may be substantially circular, for example, orother shapes as will be recognized by those skilled in the art. Theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 9E illustrates the controller 242 and baseplate 262 resting against respective upper and lower surfaces of tophousing 244 via respective friction reduction nubs. An alternateembodiment allows for the controller 242 to be sufficiently raised abovethe upper surface of the top housing 244 when the guide knob 256 andball 258 are engaged with the flower-pedal impressions 254 so that thecontroller 242 may be depressed and released to active a switchcontained within the sensing means 214 for switching the device 159between modes in accordance with aspects of the present invention. Inone exemplary embodiment, a circumferential gap 266 may be formed aroundthe collar portion 250 of controller 242 to define a distance thatcontroller 242 may be translated in order to register movement of thecontroller 242. The gap 266 may be sized slightly smaller than thedistance from the peripheral edge of controller 242 to a raised ridge268 that may extend around the perimeter of controller 242. Gap 266provides a user with tactile feedback that controller 242 has been moveda sufficient distance to register its movement. Raised ridge 268 mayfunction as a means to prevent controller 242 from rotating during useor alternate means may be provided.

Another exemplary arrangement of the device 159 of FIG. 9E isillustrated in FIG. 9F and may include controller 242 having a pluralityof extensions 270 extending downwardly from its lower surface. A biasingmeans such as compression spring 272 may be captured at its upper end bythe centrally disposed extension 270 and rest on top of insertion 246when the device 159 is assembled. Insertion 246 may include ridges 274that may impinge corresponding ridges 276 to prevent insertion 246 frompassing through central aperture 264 of the base plate 262 when device159 is assembled or during assembly. Controller 242 may be coupled withbottom housing 240 by means of the exterior extensions 270. Whencontroller 242 and bottom housing 240 are coupled and assembled withindevice 159 the impressions 254 formed within the insertion 246 maymatingly engage the guide knob 256 and guide ball 258 shown in FIG. 9E.It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that various aspectsof the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9F may be adaptedor modified to fit into a wide range of electronic device housings, suchas hand-held electronic game housings for example, and generate datasignals having specific characteristics to operate a specific device orinterface with other devices.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exploded view of another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. A top housing 300 may be connected with a bottomhousing 302 to form a housing for an exemplary embodiment of keyboard10. The structure and functionality of the exemplary embodiment of FIG.10 will be described with reference to the right hand side of keyboard10 it being understood that the structure and functionality of the lefthand side may be identical except for those differences describedherein. The left hand side of keyboard 10 is shown with certaincorresponding structure described for the right hand side. A right dome304 is provided that may be shaped to conform to the palmar architectureof a user's right hand substantially at rest. The right dome 304 mayinclude a grooved portion or indentation 306 within which a user mayrest a finger during use such as the pinky or little finger. Dome 304may be attached to a dome plate 308, more clearly shown in FIG. 11, thatmay include a biasing means, such as a plurality of symmetricallydisposed cantilever arms 310, for creating a “spring back” effect whenthe dome 304 is coupled with the top housing 300. This “spring back”effect provides a user with tactile feedback when generating datasignals to a control circuit board 312 as more fully described below.This tactile feedback indicates to a user that dome 304 has beensufficiently depressed to generate a data signal. The underside of eachdistal end of the plurality of cantilever arms 310 may include one ormore protuberances or nubs 309 that may rest against a surface 311 ofthe top housing 300 when the dome 304 is coupled with the top housing300. Nubs 309 may reduce the friction between the distal ends of thecantilever arms 310 and the surface 311 when the dome 304 is moved invarious directions.

A director plate 314 may include a post 316 supported on an arcuatecantilever arm 318 for mating with the dome plate 308 and coupling thedome 304 to the top housing 300. In this respect, the director plate 314may include at least one slot 320 having an offset width for receivingrespective locking tabs 321, shown in FIG. 11, affixed to the undersideof the dome plate 308. Each locking tab 321 may have a flange 323 formedon its distal end that is inserted through the wider portion of acorresponding slot 320, as best shown in FIG. 12, so that when the domeplate 308 is turned relative to the director plate 314 a locking tab 321will slide into the narrower portion of a corresponding slot 320 and theassociated flange 323 will slide underneath the bottom of the directorplate 314. When coupling the dome plate 308 to the director plate 314 inthis manner, the post 316 will impinge the underside of the directorplate 314 when the locking tabs 321 are initially inserted into thewider portion of respective slots 320. In this position, the cantileverarm 318 creates an upward bias so that as the dome plate 308 is turnedrelative to the director plate 314 the upper end of the post 316 willslide along the underside of the director plate 314 and be urgedupwardly into a respective aperture 322 formed in the director plate314. When post 316 snaps into a respective aperture 322 the dome 304 iscoupled with the top housing 300.

A guide plate 324 is provided that may rest on respective guide walls326 that allow for sliding the dome 304 laterally or “east” and “west”when coupled with the top housing 300. Corresponding guide rails (notshown) may be formed on the underside of the guide plate 324 that fitover respective ones of the guide walls 326. A button plunger 328 mayhave a ball bearing 330 affixed centrally on its top when button plunger328 is placed over a corresponding plunger post 332. A compressionspring (not shown) may be inserted within the plunger post 332 forcreating an upward bias on the plunger button 328 so that it may bedepressed and released in response to pressing down and releasing dome304 to activate a switch 334. A pair of ball plungers 336 may beprovided having respective ball bearings affixed to their tops whencoupled with the bottom housing 302. Ball bearings 338 may engage theunderside of the director plate 314 when the keyboard 10 is assembled asmore fully described below. The ball plungers 336 may be placed withinrespective housings 340, each having a compression spring 342 placedtherein for creating an upward bias on the ball plungers 336. One of theball plungers 336 may include a snap retainer 341 and a snap ring 342that may be placed over the respective ball plunger 336 so that aportion of the plunger 336 extends above the top of the snap retainer341 when inserted into housing 340. The snap retainer and ring mayprovide auditory and/or tactile feedback to a user that the dome 304 hasbeen translated a sufficient distance indicating the proximate end of akeystroke in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In thisrespect, referencing FIG. 12, the underside of the director plate 314may include a concave impression 344 that centrally receives the plunger336 having the snap retainer and ring arrangement when the keyboard 10is assembled. Plunger 336 is depressed by the curvature of impression344 in response to movement of dome 304. Plunger 336 may move downwardlya distance that coincides with the dome 304 moving approximately threefourths of its total travel, for example, for generating a data signalat which time the snap retainer and ring will “snap” providing feedbackto the user. The engagement of the concave impression 344 and associatedplunger 336 also help to re-center the dome 304 after generating a datasignal.

Means for guiding dome 304 may be provided as a patterned impression 346formed in the underside of the director plate 314 for receiving theother one of the ball plungers 336. The impression 346 may be aflower-pedal arrangement having eight grooves within which respectiveball bearing 338 may be received to guide the dome 304 in a plurality ofdirections for generating alphanumeric characters in accordance withaspects of the present invention. Alternate means for guiding dome 304will be recognized by those skilled in the art such as a similarlypatterned aperture in director plate 314, for example. An aperture 348and associated cylindrical extension 349 may be formed in the directorplate 314 for receiving a guide ball 350 affixed to the top of an armvertically extending from position sensing means 352 when keyboard 10 isassembled. In this respect, guide ball 350 may be situated within thecylindrical extension 349 and consequently move in response to movementof dome 304. Guide ball 350 in turn moves the vertically extending armor shaft that is pivotally connected at its base within the positionsensing means 352. The position sensing means 352 may generate a datasignal to the control circuit board 312 in response to movement of thevertically extending arm indicative of the dome's 304 movement and/orposition. The control circuit board 312 may be programmed to interpretthe data signals received from the position sensing means 352 togenerate a corresponding data signal indicative of an alphanumericcharacter to be produced and/or a keyboard function to be performed. Theunderside of director plate 314 may also include a pair of guide posts354 that fit within respective slots 356 of the guide plate 324 thatallow for guiding the dome 304 in a “north” and “south” direction whenkeyboard 10 is assembled.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a keyboard layoutin accordance with aspects of the present invention. One exemplaryembodiment allows for the layout to be based at least in part on anassociation between movements of domes 303, 304, as well as the domes ofother embodiments of the present invention, and the hand-motions thatwould be used on the traditional QWERTY layout. It will be recognized bythose skilled in the art that associations may be made, in accordancewith aspects of the present invention, between exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention and keyboard layouts other than a QWERTY keyboardlayout. For example, aspects of the present invention may be used withany customized and/or user defined alphabet and/or alphanumericcharacter layouts. On a QWERTY keyboard, a 1:1 input to character outputratio is employed in that one character is generated by one key beingpressed. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention allow for a 2:1input to character output ratio such that two inputs, one from eachhand, may be used to generate a data signal to produce one characteroutput. In order to associate the QWERTY layout to exemplary embodimentsof the present layout, movement of domes 303, 304 are based in part onthe kinesthetic feel of typing on the QWERTY keyboard layout. Thisapproach is advantageous in that there is a high correlation ofkinesthetic feel between exemplary embodiments of the present inventionand finger motions associated with using the QWERTY keyboard layout inaccordance with traditional typing methodology. In this respect, thehand and finger motions used to generate characters between therespective layouts are related. This allows users who are familiar withusing a QWERTY keyboard to quickly learn the exemplary layouts disclosedherein, which minimizes training time. Much of the gross kinestheticfeel between the two keyboard layouts is maintained. It also allows theuser to retain this kinesthetic relationship if the user returns tousing the QWERTY layout.

The “home row” keys of a QWERTY keyboard in accordance with traditionaltyping methodology are “a, s, d and f” for fingers of the left hand and“j, k, I and ;” for fingers of the right hand. With the exception ofthese “home row” keys, a QWERTY user will move respective fingers in aparticular direction to access all other keys on the keyboard. Inaccordance with aspects of the present invention, each direction aQWERTY user moves a finger may be associated with a point of a compass.For example, when typing the letter “q” on a QWERTY keyboard, the leftpinky finger moves “northwest”. In typing the same letter with theexemplary layout of FIGS. 13 and 14, the left dome, and therefore theleft hand, may also move in the “northwest” direction. In this respect,the user's sense of knowing the direction the fingers move on a QWERTYkeyboard is retained when using an exemplary layout of the presentinvention. Similarly, using the position of a user's hands on the “homerow” keys of a QWERTY keyboard as reference points, every key has arelative location on the keyboard and is located in a direction awayfrom one or both of the user's hands. For example, the letter “h” islocated to the right or “east” of the user's left hand, even though theleft hand is not used to stroke the “h”. One aspect of the presentinvention allows for moving a dome in the direction of a letter'slocation on the QWERTY keyboard layout to generate a data signal forproducing a keystroke even if the hand moving that dome would not beused to produce the letter on a QWERTY keyboard. For example, togenerate a keystroke for the letter “h” using the exemplary layout ofFIGS. 13 and 14, the left dome may be moved to the right or “east”, andthe right dome may be moved to the left or “west”, which is thedirection a user would move their “pointing” finger to type “h” on aQWERTY layout. Additionally, moving the left dome “east” and the rightdome “west” may be visualized to an end user as making the horizontalbar of an “H”, which creates another kinesthetic association for a userbetween dome movement and character generation. Similarly, moving theleft dome “southeast” and the right dome “southwest” to generate a datasignal indicative of the letter “v” creates a similar kinestheticassociation for a user. A dome may also be moved in a direction based onthe relative location of a key on the QWERTY keyboard. The same holdstrue for associating any key on a standard keyboard layout used with apersonal computer, which typically includes a QWERTY layout section,used as an interface device with a personal computer to the movement ofone or more domes 303, 304 for generating a data signal.

Another aspect of the present invention allows for generating akeystroke by moving a first dome 303, 304 in the general compassdirection of the character as it is found on a QWERTY layout and movinga second dome in a direction that is at least a function of the ease ofdome movement and/or the frequency with which that character is used. Inthis respect, when generating a keystroke for a character having a highrelative frequency of use, one aspect allows for moving one of the domesin a compass direction that is relatively easier for a user to use. Ithas been determined that moving or directing a dome in one of the“north”, “south”, “east”, or “west” directions is typically easier for auser than moving or directing a dome in the “northwest”, “northeast”,“southeast” or “southwest” directions. When generating a data signal forproducing an alphanumeric character having a low relative frequency ofuse, a dome may be moved or directed into one of the “northwest”,“northeast”, “southeast” or “southwest” directions. These four positionsor directions are typically less easy for users to direct the dome andmay therefore be used with less frequency. For example, the letter “e”is the most commonly or frequently used character in the Englishalphabet. The exemplary layout of FIGS. 13 and 14 allow for a left handmotion that is up or “north” and a right hand motion that is up or“north” for generating a keystroke to produce the letter “e”. In thisrespect, movement of the left dome is associated with the kinestheticfeel of a user's left hand, as it would be done to activate the “e” keyon a QWERTY keyboard. That is, the left dome moves in the direction auser's middle finger would move to activate the “e” key. This isgenerally in an up or “north” direction. Movement of the right dome isalso up or “north” because it has been determined that the “north”position or direction is typically the easiest for users to move thedome of the “north”, “south”, “east” or “west” directions and “e” is acharacter having a high relative frequency of use.

The letter “a” is also a character with a high relative frequency ofuse. To generate a data signal or keystroke for producing the “a”character, the exemplary layout allows for a left hand motion that is tothe left or “west” and a right hand motion that is in the up or “north”direction. Because the letter “a” is a “home row” key it requires nomovement of a user's finger for its production on a QWERTY keyboardother than to press the “a” key with the user's left pinky finger. Inthis respect, the association between movement of the left dome and theQWERTY keyboard layout is the relative location of the letter “a” on theQWERTY keyboard. This is, the “a” is located on the left side of theQWERTY keyboard. Consequently, the left hand movement of the dome is inthe left or “west” direction and the right hand movement or motion is inthe up or “north” direction because the letter ”a” is a character havinga high relative frequency of use and the “north” direction is relativelyeasier for users to move a dome.

One aspect of the exemplary layout of FIGS. 13 and 14 allow forgenerating a keystroke to produce the letter “z” by moving the left handand dome in the “southwest” direction and moving the right hand and domein the same or “southwest” direction. In this respect, either one of thedomes may be moved in the “southwest” direction because that is therelative direction of that letter's location of the QWERTY keyboard.That is, the letter “z” is located in the “southwest” corner of theQWERTY keyboard. The other one of the domes may also be moved in the“southwest” direction because the letter “z” has a low relativefrequency of use and the “southwest” direction is a direction that isrelatively less easy for a user to move a dome. As will be appreciatedwith reference to the exemplary layout of FIGS. 13 and 14, a combinationof dome movements has been determined in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention to generate a keystroke for producing alphanumericcharacters such as those found on a standard computer keyboard used asan interface device with a standard personal computer, for example. Thisexemplary layout also allows for executing functions found on a standardcomputer keyboard such as a “shift” mode, a “mouse” mode, a “caps lock”mode, a “num lock” mode, for example. As indicated on the exemplarylayout, some of these functions may require depressing or “clicking” oneof more of the domes 303, 304. In this respect, a dome 303, 304 may bedepressed to activate and deactivate these functions in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

The exemplary keyboard layouts illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 mayinclude a color-coding for the arrows associated with each key on thelayout such as coding the left arrow yellow and the right arrow blue forease of reference by a user. Correspondingly colored markings may beincluded on the periphery of respective surfaces 311 at the eightcompass points or directions into which a respective dome 303, 304 maybe moved. This color-coding allows a user to easily associate arespective dome 303, 304 and the direction in which it is to be moved togenerate desired data signals for producing an alphanumeric character.One exemplary embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 10, and asindicated in FIGS. 13 and 14, allows for entering a “Num Lock” mode bydouble clicking left dome 303, which may activate switch 334 forentering that mode. Control circuit board 312 may be programmed toreceive a data signal from switch 334 to switch the control logic of theapparatus into and out of the “Num Lock” mode. The “Num Lock” modeallows for generating data signals for producing the alphanumericcharacters on the numbers pad by moving only one dome such as right dome304. The “Shift” mode may be activated by pressing down and holding theleft dome 303, the “Caps Lock” mode may be activated by single clickingthe left dome 303 and the “Mouse” mode may be activated by singleclicking the right dome 304. Each of these movements may activate arespective switch 334, which in turn may interact with the controlcircuit board 312 to switch the control logic among these functions.Alternate embodiments allow for various combinations of dome “clicking”to activate and deactivate various functions such as single clickingeach dome 303, 304 to enter the “Caps Lock” mode, for example. When the“Mouse” mode is activated, the control circuit board 312 switches thecontrol logic so that domes 303, 304 function for cursor control. Inthis respect, one dome may control the movement of the cursor and theother may perform the left, middle and right clicks of a conventionalmouse as indicated on the exemplary layouts of FIGS. 13 and 14.Regarding cursor control, the impressions 346 formed on the underside ofthe director plate 314 may be sufficiently shallow so that a user may“jump” the respective ball bearing 338 out of or over the impressions tofreely control movement of the cursor. This allows the arm verticallyextending from position sensing means 352 to be freely pivoted in 3600for controlling the cursor movement.

Certain keyboards and associated software known in the art that are usedwith personal computers employ a function commonly referred to as“sticky keys”. Enabling the “sticky keys” function allows a user tosequentially depress a combination of keys to execute a function ratherthan having to depress and hold those keys down simultaneously, whichmay be difficult for some users to do such as those having arthritichands. For example, depressing and holding the “Ctrl”, “Alt” and“Delete” keys on a standard keyboard will pull up a Task Manager in someversions of the Windows operating system. With “sticky keys” enabled, auser may press and release these keys in sequence to pull up the TaskManager. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a“sticky key” function. In this respect, referring to FIGS. 11 or 12, a“sticky key” function may be provided for the “Ctrl” and/or “Alt”functions. One exemplary embodiment allows for activating the “Ctrl”function by moving a first controller, such as dome 303, “southeast” anda second controller, such as dome 304, “north”, allowing the controllersto return to their respective home positions. With the “Ctrl” functionactivated, a user may then enter a series of alphanumeric characters,for example, by moving respective controllers in the directionsindicated on the exemplary layouts of FIGS. 11 or 12 that represent anexecutable function such as a command or other instruction. Afterentering these alphanumeric characters, the user may then execute thefunction by deactivating the “Ctrl” function by moving the first andsecond controllers in the respective directions indicated above. The“Alt” function may be similarly executed. Respective LEDs may illuminateon the surface of device 10 when the “Ctrl” and “Alt” functions areenabled, as well as other functions, in this manner to indicate to auser that the respective “sticky key” functions are activated.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the variousembodiments of an interface device, such as keyboard 10, may be used togenerate electronic data signals that may be used to perform a widerange of functions and are not limited to data signals that may be usedto produced alphanumeric characters and/or to execute standard keyboardfunctions. For example, software and/or firmware may be configured tointerpret data signals produced in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention to interact with and/or control a range of electronicdevices such as computer games, simulators, robots, telecommunicationsequipment or other devices responsive to an electronic data signal.Embodiments of keyboard 10 may be configured to transmit data signalsover wireless communications mediums as will be recognized by thoseskilled in the art.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the exemplaryembodiments of the present invention may generate data signals and/orinstructions having specified characteristics as required for use in awide range of applications such as the formation of alphanumeric orspecial characters in a computing or communications environment or as aninput data signal to and/or for control of a wide range of electronic,electro-mechanical or other devices. For example, exemplary embodimentsmay be configured to select phonemes by moving one or more domes in aspecific direction. The association between dome movement and thephoneme selected may be a function of an end user's physical ability orlimitations, for example. Alternate embodiments may be integral with anautomobile's steering wheel, for example, to control various functionssuch as the radio functions, AC control, radio tuner, dialing a cellphone through the car system, etc. Various other embodiments may be usedfor industrial, aircraft or robotics control, controlling motorizedwheelchairs, controlling functions in an automated house such as turninglights on and off, generating characters or icons for pictorialcommunication vs. alphanumeric, or a voice synthesized embodiment may beused for phoneme and icon reading in combination, for example. An LCDpanel may be built into the housing of various embodiments of thepresent invention for a typing tutor, troubleshooting instructions,sound programming or other settings. Alternate embodiments may be usedto control instant messaging functions or the buttons at the top of aWeb browser, for example.

While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described by way of example only, numerous variations, changes andsubstitutions will occur to those of skill in the art without departingfrom the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that theinvention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

1) A method for generating a data signal associated with an alphanumericcharacter to be produced using an apparatus having a control circuit, atleast one controller movable in a plurality of directions such that whenthe at least one controller is moved in one of the directions the datasignal associated with the alphanumeric character is generated, themethod comprising: moving a first controller in a direction associatedwith a location on a QWERTY keyboard layout of the alphanumericcharacter to be produced. 2) The method of claim 1 further comprising:moving a second controller in the direction associated with the locationon the QWERTY keyboard layout of the alphanumeric character to beproduced. 3) The method of claim 1 further comprising: moving a secondcontroller in a direction associated with a relative frequency of use ofthe alphanumeric character to be produced. 4) The method of claim 1further comprising: moving the first controller and a second controllerto activate one of a “Ctrl” sticky key function and an “Alt” sticky keyfunction; moving the first controller and the second controller togenerate data signals associated with at least one alphanumericcharacter indicative of an executable function; and moving the firstcontroller and the second controller to deactivate the activated stickykey function to execute the executable function. 5) The method of claim1 wherein the plurality of directions define respective points of acompass and wherein a second controller is moved in at least one of anorth direction, a south direction, an east direction and a westdirection. 6) The method of claim 1 further comprising: moving a secondcontroller in a direction associated with a location on the QWERTYkeyboard layout of the alphanumeric character to be produced relative toa position of a user's fingers when placed on a set of home row keys ofthe QWERTY keyboard layout. 7) A method for generating a data signalassociated with an alphanumeric character to be produced, the method foruse with an apparatus having a control processor, at least onecontroller movable in a plurality of directions defining respectivepoints of a compass such that when the at least one controller is movedin one of the directions the data signal associated with thealphanumeric character is generated, the method comprising: moving afirst controller in at least one direction selected from the group of: adirection associated with a location on a QWERTY keyboard layout of thealphanumeric character to be produced; a direction associated with arelative frequency of use of the alphanumeric character to be produced;and at least one of a north direction, a south direction, a westdirection and an east direction. 8) The method of claim 7 furthercomprising: moving a second controller in at least one directionselected from the group of: a direction associated with a location on aQWERTY keyboard layout of the alphanumeric character to be produced; adirection associated with a relative frequency of use of thealphanumeric character to be produced; and at least one of a northdirection, a south direction, a west direction and an east direction. 9)A method for generating a data signal indicative of an alphanumericcharacter selected from a set of characters to be input into a computingdevice, the method for use with an apparatus having a processing meansand at least one controller movable in a plurality of directions forcausing the data signal to be generated and wherein the set ofcharacters are arranged in a layout, the method comprising: moving atleast one controller in a direction selected from the group of: adirection associated with a location on the layout of the alphanumericcharacter to be produced; and a direction associated with a relativefrequency of use of the alphanumeric character.